TY - JOUR T1 - The social embeddedness of transactions: Evidence from the residential real estate industry JF - The Information Society Y1 - 2003 A1 - Sawyer, Steve A1 - Kevin Crowston A1 - Rolf Wigand A1 - Allbritton, Marcel KW - Computer-Mediated Communication KW - Coordination KW - Real Estate AB - Information and communications technologies (ICT) are becoming pervasive in the residential real-estate industry and their usage is affecting the work lives of real-estate agents. Drawing on data from a regional study of the residential real-estate industry in the United States, we focus on the disintermediation or, more accurately, the reintermediation of real-estate agents in the sales process. Using data collected from interviews, direct observation, and archival records, we examine how real-estate agents are (1) taking advantage of new ICT in their work, and (2) protecting themselves from others wishing to displace their position in the real-estate value chain. Our analysis of this activity draws on two contrasting theoretical perspectives to illuminate the roles of residential real-estate agents: transaction cost and social capital. The results of this study provide insights into the ways in which ICT are used to build and draw on the social relationships that underpin the actual transactions, to help guide the process of buying/selling a house, and to invoke expertise as needed. VL - 19 IS - 2 ER - TY - Generic T1 - Information and communication technologies in the real estate industry: Results of a pilot survey [Research in progress] T2 - Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS) Y1 - 2001 A1 - Rolf Wigand A1 - Kevin Crowston A1 - Sawyer, Steve A1 - Allbritton, Marcel ED - Smithson, Steve ED - Gricar, Joze ED - Podlogar, Mateja ED - Avgerinou, Sophia KW - Real Estate AB - We have been studying the growing use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the residential real estate industry and the effects of this use on how realtors work. Earlier stages of our project involved qualitative research to develop a better understanding of the industry, the work of realtors and their use of ICT. In this paper we report on the results of qualitative research and a pilot of a survey intended to gather large-scale data on realtors and ICT use. JF - Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS) CY - Bled, Slovenia ER - TY - Generic T1 - How do information and communication technologies reshape work? Evidence from the residential real estate industry T2 - Proceedings of International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) Y1 - 2000 A1 - Sawyer, Steve A1 - Kevin Crowston A1 - Allbritton, Marcel A1 - Rolf Wigand KW - Real Estate AB - We are exploring how information and communication technology (ICT) use affects the work lives of real estate agents, the process of selling/buying houses, and the overall structure of the residential real estate industry. Earlier stages of our work involved intensive field research on how real estate agents use ICT. In this paper, we report on the design and analysis of a pilot survey of 868 agents intended to investigate their ICT use more generally. Analysis of the 153 responses to this survey sheds light on how ICT use supports information control, enables process support, and helps agents to extend and maintain their social capital. JF - Proceedings of International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) CY - Brisbane, Australia, December 10–13 ER -